Holidays in Patagonia
A Winter Wonderland...
RealWorld Guide to Patagonia
The vast region of Patagonia straddles the border between Chile and Argentina, and it's hard to find anywhere else on earth that allows you to experience nature the sheer grandeur of nature in the same way. This is a land of colossal glaciers, snow-capped mountains, flower-filled meadows and crystal-clear lakes...
Much of Patagonia is covered by National Parks on both sides of the border, and although you can stick to either Argentina or Chile, you'll definitely get the best out of Patagonia if you combine the two. In particular the Glaciers National Park in Argentina and the epic landscapes of the Torres del Paine in Chile are easily combined in one trip and both are more than deserving of your attention.
You can see much of Patagonia on easily-accessible day trips from towns like El Calafate and Puerto Montt but if you want to really appreciate everything that Patagonia has to offer, then a few days trekking will allow you to really get out there and get to grips with the very best of Patagonia.
Where to Stay in Patagonia
Patagonia is a vast region, so where exactly you choose to stay will depend on which parts of Patagonia you want to see. If northern Patagonia and Argentina's Lake District is top of your agenda, then it's probably best to base yourself somewhere in or around Bariloche, but if you're looking for the 'real' Patagonia, then read on...
Argentinian Patagonia
To see the best of Argentinian Patagonia, we'd recommend that you stay in the pretty little town of El Calafate. This small town, on the shores of Lake Argentino, is the real gateway for Argentinian Patagonia, but also has easy access to the Chilean side. El Calafate itself has grown from an overnight settlement for wool traders in the 1920s to be a small but thriving town of 20,000 people today and although many artists and craftsmen have made their home here, the town is very much geared towards tourists coming to the area. It has a choice of hotels, restaurants and other facilities that you'd expect in a much bigger town, and the airport offers regular flights to the rest of Argentina.
A little further north from El Calfate, the much smaller settlement of El Chalten is establishing itself as a base for trekking and climbing in Patagonia. Situated within the stupendous Glaciers National Park (El Calafate is just outside), it offers easy access for trekking in some of Patagonia's most beautiful landscapes. Facilities here are more limited than El Calafate, but if trekking is your priority then the location can't be beat...
Chilean Patagonia
Over the border in Chile, Patagonia stretches from Puerto Natales in the south right up Chile's long, fjord-like coastline to Isla Chiloe and Puerto Montt in the north. In the south, the Torres del Paine National Park, is best accessed from Puerto Natales, although you can also visit from El Calafate, or combine the two!
Further up the Pacific Coast, Puerto Montt is the natural base for trips into the Puyehue National Park just across the border from Bariloche in Argentina, or south across the Chacao Channel to the island of Chiloe. It's easy to visit this side of the border and then head over to Bariloche in Argentina, and the journey is absolutely beautiful.
What to See and Do in Patagonia
The National Parks on both sides of the borders contain some of the most beautiful scenery in South America, and if time permits we'd certainly recommend that you see both. Here is a quick guide to the absolute highlights of Patagonia...
![Perito Moreno Glacier]()
Perito Moreno and Glaciers National Park
Possibly the single biggest must-see sight on any holiday in Patagonia is Argentina's Glaciers National Park, and in particular the stunning Perito Moreno Glacier. This glacial behemoth (it's 30km long, 5km wide and it's still growing...) is just a short drive from El Calafate and so is easily visitable in a day. There is a walking circuit around the glacier but many people also choose to extend the standard visit to Perito Moreno by taking a walk on the glacier itself - this takes around 2 hours extra but really adds to the experience.
Further north in the Glaciers National Park, the lovely Lake Viedma and the Viedma Glacier are easily visited from the town of El Chalten, as is the iconic mountain of Argentinian Patagonia, Mount Fitzroy. El Chalten is a great base for trekking on the slopes of Fitzroy and other mountains in the area such as Cerro Torre.
![Torres del Paine]()
Torres del Paine National Park
Just over the border from El Calafate and into Chile, the stunning Torres del Paine National Park is named for the jagged Cordillera del Paine mountain range which lies at its heart. If anything, the scenery in Torres del Paine is even more spectacular than on the Argentinian side, with huge granite peaks rising from lush green meadows, and huge glaciers spilling into vividly-coloured lakes. You can visit Torres del Paine on a day trip from El Calafate in Argentina, or from Puerto Natales in Chile, but we'd really recommend taking a two-day journey between the two, giving you the chance to stay overnight in the National Park.
And if you want to do some trekking in the area, a well-marked network of trails and refugios allows a variety of routes, from day treks to the 5-day "W" route, or a full 9-day circuit of the Torres del Paine.
![Chiloe Island]()
Chiloe Island
Further north, and just to the south of Puerto Montt, the island of Chiloe is a fascinating insight into what much of Patagonia looked like in the past. Separated from the mainland, Chiloe didn't officially become part of Chile until 1826 and even today it preserves indigenous and local traditions that are unique to the island.
These traditions include unique dishes like the curanto (a prehistoric way of cooking meat on buried hot stones, similar to the Pachamanca of Peru) and traditional songs, dances and myths. These unique traditions make Chiloe a popular tourists destination for both Chileans and international visitors.
![Lake Nahuel Huapi, Bariloche]()
Northern Patagonia
Puerto Montt is also the base for visits into the Vicente Perez Rosales and Puyehue National Parks, which include sights like the beautiful Osorno volcano and the lovely Lago Todos los Santos. Just over the border into Argentina, the town of San Carlos de Bariloche offers easy access to Argentina's stunning Lake District and - in season - South America's best skiing.
It's easily possible to travel between the two towns, and the journey by a combination of roads and lake cruises is one of the most beautiful in South America.
Flights to Patagonia
In Argentina, both El Calafate and Bariloche have airports with flights to destinations within Argentina, including Buenos Aires and Mendoza, while in Chile Puerto Montt and Puerto Natales have flight connections to each other and to the capital, Santiago.
From Bariloche you can also fly to Santiago de Chile but that's the only international connection available.
Road and Ferry Links in Patagonia
However, Chile and Argentina are connected by a network of roads and lake crossings in Patagonia, so if you want to get from El Calafate to Puerto Natales you might not be able to fly, but you can drive. The same goes for crossing between Bariloche and Puerto Montt. It's possible to make these journeys on public transport, but in practice it's often easier (and not always more expensive) to do things as part of an organised tour.
![Patagonia climate graph]()
Weather & Climate in Patagonia
Weather in Patagonia
Particularly as you get further south in Patagonia, in the areas around El Calafate and Puerto Natales, winters (May-September) can get very cold, although you tend not to get particularly high rain/snowfall on the lower ground. From November to March, however, conditions are overwhelmingly clear and dry, so it's perfect weather for trekking.
In northern Patagonia, the weather is milder but also wetter, especially in the winter. Bariloche sees heavy snowfalls throughout the winter months, although on the coast in Puerto Montt it is more likely to be rain. In the summer, days are warmer and the trekking season is a little longer - really anytime from October through to April.